Handhold for bath-tub rims.



J. H. PUGH. HANDHOLD FOR BATH TUB RIMS. APPLIoATIoN FILED JAN. 27, 1906.

Patented May 18,- 1909;

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)lf-@y Inventor by v Atti,

Attest:

TED STATES PATENT JOHN H. PUGH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

HANDHOLD FOR BATH-TUB RIMS.

i Application led January 27,

To all 'whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. PUGH, a citizen of the United States, residing at N w York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Handholds for Bath- Tub Rims, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to hand-holds for bath tub rims, and the like, and its novelty consists in the construction and adaptation of the parts, as will be more fully hereinafter pointed out.

The modern sanitary bath tub with a glazed surface and glazed rim is clean and pleasant to use, but it has the disadvantage of being slippery. Stout persons, and some others, find difficulty on this account in getting in or out of such a tub.

The purpose of my invention is to provide means whereby the person using the tub is enabled firmly to grip the side or rim of the tub and prevent himself from falling or slipm: p rFhe invention consists in a hand-hold made of material not readily affected by water; roughened, if necessary, to afford a firmer hold, and provided with means whereby it may be securely held in position and yet readily be removed when not in use, and provided with further means for adjusting it to tubs provided with rims of di'erent widths.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical section of the rim of a bathtub provided with one of my improved appliances which is shown in perspective. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the hand-hold proper showing the stiffening rod in position. Fig. 3 is a section on the plane of the line 3 3 in Fig. 2; Fig. el is a perspective view of the resilient frame, Fig. 5 is a side view of the frame provided with an extension rod and Figs. 6, 7, 3 and 9 are details of extension rods of different lengths.

In the drawings, l0 is the side of a bath tub of usual construction made of glazed metal and provided with a flaring rim l1.

2() is the hand-hold comprising a sheet 2l of soft flexible friction inducing material, preferably soft rubber, and provided, when deemed desirable, with a roughened surface l 22. It is also preferably provided with a stiffening rod 23 secured along the outer ed gcof the sheet 21 by fasteners 24, 24, or other suitable means. I have provided, as the l means for securing this flexible hand hold l upon the rim l1 of the tub 10, a frame which l Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1909.

1906. Serial N0. 298,088.

while it is of simple and inexpensive construction, has as further characteristic features the capability of so securing the flexible hand hold to the rim as effectually to prevent the latter from slippingon the rim when it is gripped by the user of the tub and at the same time is itself readily removable from and applicable to the rim of the tub and need not be positively attached to the hand hold. lThis securing means consists of a resilient frame made u of two elastic members3l and 32, preferably made of steel, which has been nickellated and which are oined together by a ongitudinal member 33 made of thin flat metal. rlhese elastic members are each curved outward at 34 to conform to the general shape of the rim and are then bent back under the rim at 35 and there provided with a set screw 36, or similar device for firmly holding the frame in place.

ln order to provide means for varying the width of the elastic members 3l and 32 where they embrace the rim of the tub, and to accommodate the same frame to tubs of different sizes in this respect, l cut these pieces at 34, or thereabouts, thread the severed ends and insert therein threaded extension rods or coupling pieces 40, which, being provided in sets of varying sizes as shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9, enable the length of this part of the frame to be varied.

One elastic member 3l will hold the handhold in position provided the material of which it is composed is not too flexible. l prefer, however, to make it light and flexible, in which case the stiffening rod 23 and longitudinal member 33 assist in preventing the sheet of material from crumpling or doubling up under stress of lateral pressure.

What l claim as new is l. The combination with the rim of a bath tub, of a flexible friction inducing strip thereon and a holding means for said strip comprising a frame having an elastic member which overlies the strip and holds the same firmly upon the rim and also having a member which extends to a place beneath said rim, and clamping means engaging the latter portion of the frame and securing the same to the rim.

2. The combination with the rim of a bath tub, of a flexible friction inducing strip thereon. and a holding means for said strip comprising a resilient frame which over-lies the strip and holds the same firmly upon the rim, said frame having two rim-gripping loops and a longitudinal member which connects their extremities with each, other said loops extending to a place beneath the rim of the bath tub, and clamping means extending` through the latter portions of the loops and engaging the underside of the rim.

3. A hand hold for a bath tub, comprising a flexible friction-inducing strip adapted to the rim of the tub, and means for securing the same firmly upon said rim, comprising a resilient frame which overlies the strip and is provided with a bent portion adapted to extend to the underside of the rim of the tub, and clamping means engaging the frame outside the tub and adapted to clamp to the underside of the rim.

4. A hand hold for a bath tub, comprising a flexible friction inducing strip adapted to the rim of the tub, and means for securing the same firmly upon said rim, comprising a resilient frame which overlies the strip and is rovided with two rim-gripping loops and a ongitudinal Vmember which connects their extremities with each other, and adjustable means for securing the latter ortion of the frame removably to the underside of the rim.

5. A hand hold for a bath tub, comprising a fiexible friction inducing strip adapted to the rim of the tub, and means for securing the same firmly upon said rim, consisting of a frame having bent resilient side members which engage the outer surface of the strip and are adapted to press the latter upon the rim, and means which connect the lower extremities of said members with each other and also engage the outer surface of the strip, and clamping devices for hxing the opposite ends of the first mentioned members removably to the underside of said rim.

A hand hold for a bath tub comprising a flexible friction-inducing strip adapted to the rim of the tub, and means for securing the same firmly upon said rim, having a portion which engages the outer surface of the strip and is adapted to extend over the rim and has means for varying its size to adapt it to ldifferent siZes of rims.

7. A hand hold for a bath tub comprising a flexible friction-inducing strip adapted to the rim of the tub, and means for securing the same firmly upon said rim, having a portion which engages the outer surface of the strip and is adapted to extend over the rim and has a removable section whereby its size may be varied.

8. A hand hold for a bath tub comprising a flexible friction-inducing strip adapted to the rim of the tub, and means for securing the same firmly upon said rim, consisting of a resilient frame which engages the outer surface of the said strip and comprises a member adapted to embrace the rim of the tub and has means for attaching it to the underside of the latter and a removable section whereby its length may be varied.

9. A hand hold for a bath tub comprising a flexible friction-inducing strip adapted to the rim of the tub, and means for securing the same firmly upon said rim, consisting of a resilient frame which engages the outer surface of said strip and comprises a plurality of members each of which is adapted to embrace the rim of the tub and has a removable section for varying its length and means for attaching it to the underside of the rim of the tub, each of said members also having a depending portion, and said frame having an clement which connects the free ends of the latter portions with each other` ln testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. PUGH.

Vitnesses:

WILLIAM R. BAn'tD, STEPHEN J. Cox. 

